As we were driving home from the city I sat exhausted in the backseat of the car. I was replaying the day in my head, reliving what I saw and experiences. Suddenly my thought were carried to contemplate what I thought, said, and how I acted in general throughout the day and I was struck with a profound sense of disappointment.

I’m not sure of you’re ever had a day or feeling like this, but I sat there and thought to myself, “I just don’t like who I was today. I don’t like what I thought. I don’t like what I said. And I don’t like how I acted in general.” Of course you would think the next logical step would be to identify specific points at which I was disappointed, but that’s wasn’t the case. It wasn’t quite as simple as that. Thinking about it now, maybe it wasn’t so much what I did do, but what I didn’t do that affected me. It’s just that in general my attitude was not one of patience or love or generosity but of frustration, anger and selfishness. And as someone who aspires to let Christ live through him, this was a great disappontment.

How unfortunate it is that we often live in these former attitudes and see them as the logical consequence of situations and circumstances rather than asserting that with the strength of God these attitudes can be overcome and replaced with the former ones I mentioned.

Dr. Phil and the rest of the self-help world would have us believe that this sort of conversion is well within our grasp – all we have to do is decide to do it. I think that’s a bunch of crap. I am realizing more and more that leading the kind of joy-filled and brilliant life that God has in mind for each of us – the kind which others take note of and ask us about – takes constant vigilance and dependence on the Holy Spirit. I am praying that this kind fo disappointment becomes less and less common in my life.

Related posts:

1. New York Tirade (Part 2) – The Trip and the Day
2. The New York Tiraid (Part 1) – Pictures

Nyack is both quaint and charming. It reminded me of Old Town Pasadena set in Maine. Apparently it is home to people like Bill Murray, Rosie Odonnel, and Steven Baldwin (who we saw at the mall).

I went running a few times around town (it is also very hilly – ugh). One of the times I went running it poured the whole time. I had forgotten how much I love running in the rain.

Nyack is about 20 miles outside of NYC. We (Cris, her friend Heidi, and myself) went to the city on Thursday and I loved it. It was an expensive trip, but well worth the experience. I got to see Central Park, 5th Avenue, Wall Street, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, where the Twin Towers used to be, Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Center, Time Square, ancient and magnificent church buildings, and a bunch more. I also got to suprise my friend Karissa and we were able to grab lunch together. We took the subway system, which is very daunting for someone not accustomed to it, just about everywhere. To top it all off the Indians were in town playing the Yankees and Cris was able to get tickets to the sold out game. The Tribe got trounced, but it was really cool to see Yankee stadium and the game. It was especially thrilling to get yelled at and fear for me life on account of the Indians hat I was wearing.

The whole trip was just great. More than anything I enjoyed catching up with good friends on what God has been and is doing in and through them. We got to talk about present struggles, future dreams, and everything in-between. As an added bonus Cris introduced me to a new musical artist who you just need to check out – Bright Eyes. Let me know what you think.

Related posts:

1. New York Tirade (Part 3) – Disappointment
2. The New York Tiraid (Part 1) – Pictures
3. Independence

Related posts:

1. New York Tirade (Part 2) – The Trip and the Day
2. New York Tirade (Part 3) – Disappointment
3. Independence

Friday afternoon I picked up my friend Olivia Gougler. Olivia was part of the student minitry at RiverTree and is going into the 10th grade. She and I ventured up to Chipotle where she experienced, and finished I might add, her very first Chipotle burrito (picture forthcoming)! She and I visited our friend Gina Tamburro who had recently sprained her ankle, so we went over to watch her walk funny (I will also try to figure out how to get that put in here). I dropped Liv back off at home and her parents gave me the key to their house to use at my leisure for the week as they were going to be gone on vacation. I just can’t tell you how refreshing people of hospitality are!

I spent the early evening with Erin Bissel getting to know her better and chatting about life and love, specifically in regard to her upcoming wedding. We also discovered that she is related to my brother’s girlfriend Katie. Totally one of those small world stories.

She and I went with Ryan, Christina, and Justin Savage to the Canton Monument to listen to the orchestra and watch fireworks. It was a beautiful and fun evening.

Saturday was spent out at Wendy and Jay Oldaker’s house on Lake Mohawk. This was to be the main event of the weekend for Malone friends near and far. All told, we enjoyed the compnay of John Ruhlin, Ryan Gerber, Heather and Ryan Battles, Sarah Lantz, Cris Kellogg and her friend Amanda, Josh Elek, Abby Welsheimer, and Branden Mast. Festivities included picnicing, Boccee ball, car rides, bonfire, smores, and good old fashioned story telling.

In the morning I went with Josh, Cris, and Amanda to ACRC (Akron Christian Reformed Church). I can’t begin to explain how liberating it was to be able to gather with other believers that didn’t find it necessary to arrogantly attempt to link America’s independence with God’s blessing and such. Just good old fashioned – “We’re here to submit ourselves before God and call upon His mercy.” We had lunch at Chipotle an headed back down into Canton. I snuck in a run over at Malone and laughed out loud at the fact that I couldn’t identify one spot on campus which was not somehow linked to a memory I had.

As a side note I’d like to include a thought that ran through my head when I noticed what I just mentioned above. I have been out of college for just 4 short years. Doubtless, some of those memories I had will fade with time – this is sad. However, I am also compelled to believe that some old memories will have to go to make room for new ones – this is not sad. I pray that I never become so consumed with the past that miss out on the grand potential of the present and future. End segway.

After my run a bunch of us had dinner at Cici’s Pizza, played basketball and volleyball at Malone and then went down to Taggerts for ice cream. I simply cannot do justice to the greatness of a day like this. Aside from straight up having a good time people were becoming (re)acquainted and sharing life stories. People were praying for others and helping each other hash out major life decisions. Future plans were being made, adventures were being shared, and lives were being changed. I live for days like these.

Monday morning I caught the annual Stow Parade with my brother Alex and his girlfriend. This was both nostalgic as it is a yearly tradition and uniquely memorable as he leaved for a 6-week trip to Japan and China later this month as part of his degree program.

That afternoon I left for Nyack, NY with my friend Cris. I am here now and don’t know when I’m coming home (that’s independence for ya). We’re gonna catch a Yankees vs. Tribe game on Thuirs. and maybe spend the day in the city. Should be a cool little adventure. I’ll be sure to let ya know how it goes…

No related posts.

My high school friend Ken went up with me for the weekend and we had a great time catching up and entertaining each other. Ken is one of those friends who, no matter how long we haven’t seen each other or talked to one another, we can pick up right where we left off. Plus, he is just a riot and we always have a great time together.

For example, we visited the island tavern, “The Westview” (guess which direction it faces?), to shoot some pool. In the space of a couple hours we managed to offend ever Canadianin the place, never purposely mind you, by laughing at their money – the one and two dollar coins are calles Loonies and Toonies respectivcely, playing Born in the USA on the Jukebox, and taking 10 bucks off to two drunk Canadians that just had to play us in a game of pool.

Ken had to come home on Sunday and I spent the rest of the week with my grandmother who is staying up there by herself for the summer since my grandfather passed away last Christmas. We had a great time together talking, running errands, doing little projects around the cottage and just being together.

I came home this past Friday since I think I’ll take probably two more trips up there this summer and because there was so much I wanted to be doing back here.

Last night the guys renting my house in Jackson had a cookout and we had a bunch of friends over as well as some past and present students from the youth ministry at RiverTree. I am inclined to say something like “It was just like the good old days,” but it was so much greater than that. The coolness of last night is that it was new. I was creating new memories with old friends as well as new ones. I guess I am just trying to say that after being away from home for a year a have a hightened appreciation for the evolution of relationships. We cooked stuff on the grill, threw a frisbee, made a run to a new Sheetz (you have to make it a point to visit one of these if you never have – I highly reccommend the Orage Cream Slush!), watched a movie and fell asleep. It really was a great evening.

This morning I visited The Chapel in North Canton to pay a visit to their newly highered junior high youth pastor, Scott Calhoun, who I played soccer with and shared a room freshman year with at Malone. I am reall excited for him. I also got to see Tom and Jane Maurer who hosted me at their home when I interned at The Chapel in North Canton back in college.

I guess all this stuff kind of seems like small things, but they are also very huge in a very real way. I am really swept up in the idea of conceptualizing our lives at part of God’s Grand Story and therefore the way our stories unfold and interweave with one another takes on a tremendous amount of significance for me. Most of the ordaniriness of life seems more profound and everything seems less and less inconsequential Man, I kind of sound like someone who is dying. Maybe that’s because people sadly never figure out what it means to live until they realize it’s too late? Thank God for the grace he shows us to be awakened unto this kind of life and this way of living!

No related posts.

I was extremely glad that is was the resident pastor who committed the faux pas and not me. At the conclusion of the ceremony he announced to the congregation that although there would be no receiving line, everyone would have a chance to pick up a plastic container and that everyone would have a chance to “blow bubbles” on the way out. Unfortunately for him, he had no idea that Ryan’s nickname is Bubbles. Everyone paused for a second, but the laughter was inevitable. So shaken after realizing what he had said, he introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. Sarita Solida. Once again, everyone laughed.

Other than that, everything went off without a hitch and the reception was wonderful as well. Rachel, Sarita’s sister who was a student in my youth group at RiverTree (as well as Sarita) cried at the ceremony and read a poem she had written at the reception – both of these feats being quite out of character and deeply meaningful.

I feel like I have completed the first round of seeing people, answering the obvious questions (where are you staying?, how was school?, how you likin So. Cal? and so forth). I leave Thurs. for Pelee to hang out with my buddy Ken and my grandma for a while. I’ll be back the first of July and will be anxious to be a bit more pesonal and intentional about meeting with people.

If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out these links over to the right to Flickr (online pictures) and Baby Got Book (a hilarious music video). Blog at ya later!

Related posts:

1. Ryan & Sarita
2. Grandma & Grandpa Rozko’s Wedding Anniversary

Nearly a full year in California and this is still very much home and the familiarity of everything came back with a vengeance. Everything is right where it was when I left.

I already suspect that the summer is going to go by like a flash and soI am resolute about making the most of every minute and miximizing the time I have to spend with family and friends. My prayer is that this will be a summer to remember and I can’t wait to see what that might mean.

Related posts:

1. CIY Summer Conference 2003 022
2. CIY Summer Conference 2003 022
3. 111284860925354240

CIY Summer Conference 2003 022, originally uploaded by jrrozko.

If you click on the Flickr link to the right you will get to see a bunch of CIY pics I just uploaded. You can comment on whatever you want!

Related posts:

1. CIY Summer Conference 2003 022
2. Summer Begins

CIY Summer Conference 2003 022, originally uploaded by jrrozko.

If you click on the Flickr link to the right you will get to see a bunch of CIY pics I just uploaded. You can comment on whatever you want!

Related posts:

1. CIY Summer Conference 2003 022
2. Summer Begins

Related posts:

1. A Picture Share!
2. A Picture Share!
3. A Picture Share!

Related posts:

1. A Picture Share!
2. A Picture Share!
3. A Picture Share!

Not sure how well you can see this, but I had the chance to watch ET in the park tonight with some friends (next pic). One of the benefits of So Cal life!

Related posts:

1. A Picture Share!
2. A Picture Share!
3. A Picture Share!

Not sure how well you can see this, but I had the chance to watch ET in the park tonight with some friends (next pic). One of the benefits of So Cal life!

Related posts:

1. A Picture Share!
2. A Picture Share!
3. A Picture Share!

What kind of theology do you think this communicates?

Related posts:

1. A Picture Share!
2. A Picture Share!
3. A Picture Share!

Last night I had the opportunity to lead the worshoip music at San Marino’s evening informal service. It was good to get some experience at doing that and I have a new appreciation for those who do it on a regular basis. Not to fear, I will not be joining the ranks of aspiring worship leaders.

Feel free to add Lesslie Newbigin to the list of authors you just have to read if you want to get a better grasp on this whole Christianity thing. I just finished one of his books, The Open Secret. He had some of the most insightful and profound theological insights I have ever come across.

I will be flying home (OH) on the 6th of June for the summer. I am so excited to spend time with family and friends (also get to avoid the excruciating heat of So. Cal. summers). This time carries so much more meaning now that, for all intents and purposes, my life is here.

My family out here celebrated my sister Nicole’s 16th birthday last week. It couldn’t have been more perfect. It was a surprise party and she never expected a thing. I think I saw more of a reaction out of her in the instant she realized all her friends were gathered in the restaurant to greet her than I have in any other instance. Everyone had a truly great time and she was also taken completely surprised by the key she found in her birthday cake for her new car which dad and I had picked up earlier in the day and which was conveniently parked right outside. I have to think that it will be one of her greatest memories of high school.

“Focker out”

No related posts.